Ditcher coupling for tractors



July 24, 1956 A. v. CLARK DITCHER COUPLING FOR TRACTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 21, 1953 Fig.

INVENTOR.

July 24, 1956 A. v. CLARK DITCHER COUPLING FOR TRACTQRS Filed July 21, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 70 Fig. 4

H 24 /06 [0 r 30 I 6 a Q f o 0 P o 0 I02 A6 Fig. 6

Arfhur V. Clark INVENTOR.

DIT CHER COUPLING FOR TRACTORS.

Arthur V. Clark, Richmond, C.alif., assignor. to Elizabeth A. Clark, Richmond, Calif.

Application July 21, 1953, Serial No. 369,389

2 Claims. (Cl. 3798) This invention relates generally to earth. working apparatus and pertains more particularly to improvements in coupling mechanisms for ditchers.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a ditcher coupling which may be readily attached to tractors of the type having power; lift arms.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved ditcher coupling mechanism adapted for connection to the lift arms. of a tractor and including means for vertically adjusting the ditcher device relative thereto, permitting the proper depth setting for the ditcher and also permitting the entire ditching device to be elevated to such an extent: as to properly clear obstruction which would normally require extensive maneuvering of the associated tractor.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved coupler for ditchers permitting the desired regulation of both the depth and width of the ditch being formed.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical elevation showing a portion of a tractor and an associated ditcher coupled thereto by means of the improved coupling mechanism;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l but showing the tractor lift arms in different positions;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the coupling device;

Figure 4 is a vertical elevation showing a modified form of coupling mechanism in position for use;

Figure 5 is a vertical elevation of the assembly as shown in Figure 4 with the ditcher in elevated position; and

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the plane of section line 6-6 of Figure 4, showing details of width adjusting mechanism on enlarged scale.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1-3, reference numeral 10 indicates generally the rear portion of a tractor of any conventional make which is provided with a pair of mutually converging lower lift arms 12 pivotally attached at their forward end, as at 14, to the tractor frame and pivotally connected as at 16, to the lower end of the lift links 18 which, are, in turn, pivotally secured at their upper ends, as at 20, to the power arms 22. An upper guide or idler arm 24 is pivotally attached, as at 26, to the tractor and may incorporate a shock absorbing spring 28, in the manner shown. It is to be understood that the foregoing structure is described merely for the purpose of clarity and forms no part of this invention, the foregoing description merely setting forth the general environment in which the hereinafter described invention is to be utilized.

ted States Patent 0 Referring now more particularly to Figure 3, the assembly indicated generally by the reference character 30 will be herein termed. a holder and, includes a pair of horizontally. spaced vertical straps or plates 32 and 34 secured together at their upper and lower ends respectively by the collar or sleeve members 36 and 38. The sleeves. 36,. andv 38 are of, generally rectangular configuration and the upper sleeve 36 is provided at one side with the threaded boss member 40 through which a securing or set screw member 42 is engaged, the free end of. the screw. being provided with the head 44 and radially extending handle members 46, the purpose of Which will be presently apparent. Strap 32 is provided at its upper end with a pair of horizontally spaced bracket.

ears 48 which are apertured as at St) for reception of the pivot, pin 52. pivotally securing the free-end of the idler arm 24 thereto, as seen most' clearly in Figures 1 and 2. The lower end of the strap 32 isprovided with a pair ofvertically spaced bracket cars 54 provided with pairs of registered apertures 56 and 53 to which suitable-fastening members 60 extend to secure the pivot block 62 between the ears, the block journaling a pivot pin 64.. by means of which the free ends of the lower lift arms 12 are pivotally attached to-the holder 30;

An elongated standard 66, of rectangular cross-section,

is slidably received within the sleeve members 36 and 38 of the holder 30 and the lower end of this standard is suitably secured to a ditching plow, indicated generally by the reference numeral 68.

In operation of the assembly thus far described, it is to be noted that the plow 68, the associated standard 66 and holder 30 are secured to the free ends of the lift arm members 12 and 24, in a manner well understood in the art, with the standard 66 secured to the holder 30 by means of set screw 42 in such a position as to permit the proper depth of ditch to be dug. By reason of the vertical adjustment of the holder with re spect to the standard 66, an important advantage is attained by proper manipulation of the holder and lift arm assemblies. It is to be noted that when the tractor comes to the end of a ditch being dug, or to head gates or other obstructions, the ditch may be worked or formed almost entirely to the obstruction. The operator then stops the tractor, turns around, manipulates the handle members 46 to loosen the set screw 4-2 and operates the lift arm controls to lower the same to their lowermost position, wherein the operator manipulates the handle members 46 to once again secure the holder to the standard 66 thereby permitting the lift arms to be raised to their uppermost positions to effect raising of the ditcher plow 68 to such an extent as to entirely clear the head gate or other obstruction. The tractor may then be driven straight ahead until the ditching plow is once again engaged in the ground for its ditching operation. In this manner, the proper depth or desired depth of ditch may be dug to any reasonable degree while at the same time the connection between the holder and standard permits the ditcher plow to be raised high enough to clear any obstructions which the tractor itself can pass over.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 4-6, it is to be understood that the tractor 10 and its associated lift arms 12 and 24 are of the same construction previously described, as is the holder assembly 30 and its associated component parts. The standard member 70 is, however, apertured at its lowered end to receive a pivot pin 72 for connection to the associated bracket car 74 which is incorporated in the Martin-type ditcher, indicated generally by the reference character 76. The standard also includes a vertical bar 78 having the laterally bent end portions 80 and 82 thereof secured to the standard in the manner shown. A stud 84 is secured tented July 24,. 1956..

to the outer surface of member 78 and terminates in the enlarged spheral head 86 pivotally received With a recess 88 in the block 90. A series of set screws 92 may be provided in the block to properly maintain the stud head 86 therein. The block is provided with a vertical bore 94 through which the rod 96 projects and a set screw 98 is threadedly engaged in the recess 100 communicating with the bore 94 for engaging the rod 96 in various positions of vertical adjustment. The lower end of the rod 96 is provided with an eye 102 for connection to the staple member 104 on the ditcher plow 76.

In operation of this assembly, the holder 30 and associated standard 70 are manipulated in a manner as set forth above for obtaining the desired depth of the ditch being dug whereas the set screw 98 may be manipulated through its handle member 106 to adjust the ditcher plow 76 about the pivot pin 72 for varying the width of the ditch being dug. Otherwise, the operation of the assembly is identical with that previously described.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a tractor having a pair of spaced lift arms, a ditching tool including plate members adapted to penetrate the ground surface and form a ditch as the tractor is moved along the ground, a standard secured to said ditching tool and extending upwardly therefrom, means carried by the free ends of said lift arms for receiving said standard, said ditching tool and said standard being pivotally secured together about a transverse horizontal axis, and means for adjusting said tool angularly about said axis for varying the Width of the ditch being formed, the last mentioned means including a link secured to said ditching tool and extending upwardly therefrom, the first mentioned means including mechanism for adjustably receiving said link.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said means for receiving the standard comprises an elongated holder having spaced sleeve portions receiving said standard and provided with laterally projecting bracket ears, said bracket ears being apertured for pivotal connection to the free ends of said lift arms, a set screw for adjustably securing said standard within said sleeve portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,050,147 Lawrence Jan. 14, 1913 1,314,038 Atkins Aug. 26, 1919 2,099,637 Wendel Nov. 16, 1937 2,414,994 Wright Jan. 28, 1947 2,650,528 Morgen Sept. 1, 1953 

